Plumbing services
Polybutylene Pipe Check & Replacement in Greensboro & Summerfield, NC
If your home was built or plumbed roughly between the late 1970s and the mid-1990s, there is a chance it has polybutylene (PB) pipe, the flexible gray plastic plumbing that was widely used in that era. It can fail from the inside without much warning. We can tell you whether you have it, what shape it is in, and what your options are.
NC Plumbing License #33755 | Licensed, bonded & insured | 18+ years serving the Triad | 100% customer satisfaction
What Is Polybutylene Pipe?
Polybutylene was a popular, inexpensive plastic water supply pipe for a couple of decades and was installed in millions of homes. It is no longer accepted by building codes for water supply. The problem is that chlorine and other disinfectants in municipal water can slowly break the pipe and its fittings down from the inside, so a line can look fine on the outside and still be weakening.
How to Spot It
- Flexible plastic supply pipe, most often gray, but sometimes blue or black
- Often stamped with "PB2110" on the pipe
- Commonly found near the water heater, at the main shutoff, under sinks, and in crawl spaces or basements
- Plastic or metal crimp-style fittings at connections
Not sure what you are looking at? Send us a photo or have us take a look. Other plastic pipe can look similar, and we will confirm what you actually have.
Warning Signs of Failure
- Unexplained drops in water pressure
- Leaks at or near fittings, or stains on ceilings, walls, or under floors
- Green or white crusty buildup, corrosion, or mineral streaks at fittings and joints, which is often a sign of a slow leak
- Flaking, scaly, or discolored pipe
- A history of "mystery" leaks that keep popping up in different places
What does failing polybutylene look like? Often it is a corroded fitting at a tee or joint, with green or white crust and mineral streaks running down the pipe. If you see something like that, it is worth having it looked at.
Check, Repair, or Replace?
A single leak can be repaired, but because the pipe wears from the inside, a repair fixes one spot while the rest of the line keeps aging. Many homeowners choose to replace the pipe throughout the house. We will look at your home, explain what we find, and talk through your options, with a written estimate. When we replace polybutylene, we re-pipe with PEX. Estimates are subject to on-site inspection. For the full picture on replacing every supply line, see our Whole House Re-Pipe page.
Buying or Selling a Home With Polybutylene?
Home inspectors often flag it, and some insurance companies ask about it, so it is worth checking with your agent and your insurer. If it comes up in a sale, we can help you understand what is in the walls and what replacing it would involve.
Serving Greensboro and Summerfield
We are based in Summerfield and serve homeowners throughout Greensboro and the surrounding Triad, including nearby Oak Ridge and Stokesdale. Looking for something smaller? See Plumbing Repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. It depends on the builder and the year the plumbing was done. The quickest way to know is to look at the supply pipes or have us check.
The main risk is a sudden leak or burst that can cause water damage. Because the damage happens inside the pipe, you often cannot see it coming.
Not always on the same day, but because the pipe degrades from the inside, spot repairs only address one leak at a time. We will go over your options and let you decide.
It depends on the size of your home, how accessible the pipes are, and the scope of the work. We provide a written estimate after an on-site inspection, with no obligation. Estimates are subject to on-site inspection.
Request a Polybutylene Check
Prefer to call? 336-701-5589. Estimates are subject to on-site inspection.
Custom Electric and Plumbing Inc
8610 Keller Dr, Summerfield, NC 27358
336-701-5589 | electricianorplumber.com
NC Plumbing License #33755